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Press Release

East Tennessee Wildlife Poisoning Conviction

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Tennessee

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Rickie D. Cloyd, 61, of Fall Branch, Tenn., was convicted of violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act related to his unlawful use of a restricted use pesticide.  Cloyd was convicted following a bench trial in front of the Honorable Dennis H. Inman, U.S. Magistrate Judge, in April 2015 and was sentenced to pay a total of $5,000 in fines.

The case began as an investigation into the cause of death of numerous deceased animals found near Cloyd’s farm in Washington County, Tenn. The investigation revealed that Carbofuran, a restricted use pesticide marketed under the name Furadan, had been placed on corn baits in several locations around the Cloyd farm.  Furadan is highly toxic to wildlife and is no longer available for commercial purchase. Furadan was once commonly used on crops such as alfalfa and tobacco, but was outlawed because of its toxicity.  According to the evidence presented at trial, Cloyd used Furadan in an attempt to control pests but unintentionally caused the primary and secondary poisonings of a variety of animals, including several species of migratory birds.

This investigation was the result of the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Lampe represented the United States.

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Updated February 4, 2016

Topic
Environment